DeVoe's and Bell's high school careers overlapped, but they probably didn't share a common group of friends.

"If I had to guess, I would say they would run in different circles," physical education teacher Angie Hargreaves said.

"They were at opposite ends of the spectrum ... at least in school," Hargreaves said. "Jerry was very quiet in school. Pat was not very quiet in school. They were very different people."

Hargreaves and technology teacher John Mulcahey said DeVoe was friendly and well-liked.

"I don't think you would find anyone who said they didn't like him," Mulcahey said.

DeVoe would "push the envelope" but in a good-natured way.

"It was just funny stuff," Mulcahey said. "There was nothing malicious about him. He was just a fun kid to be around."

DeVoe was assigned to the 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, in Fort Richardson, Alaska. The brigade is in the middle of deploying 3,500 soldiers to Afghanistan.

DeVoe's 40th Cavalry Regiment was the brigade's first unit to arrive in Afghanistan. He had been in the country for less than a month. Army officials in Alaska could not be reached for more information Tuesday.

As of Monday, at least 589 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department.

Gov. David A. Paterson has directed that flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Thursday in honor of DeVoe.

"It is with deep regret that we acknowledge the death of Private First Class Patrick DeVoe," Paterson said in a statement. "On behalf of all New Yorkers, I wish to extend our heartfelt sympathies to his family, friends and fellow soldiers."

In a letter to the district, O'Brien said the district mourned the loss.

"I wish to pass along my deepest condolences to the DeVoe family from the entire Port Byron community," the letter reads. "We are thankful for the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of freedom and liberty."

Cayuga County Sheriff David Gould said he and state police officials plan to participate in any motorcade when DeVoe's body is brought home, though details of his return have not yet been revealed.